Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said that “it’s not an armed threat,” but “just like any other threat, we take it very, very seriously.”

Kirby announced that a 700-strong headquarters unit from the 101st would head to Liberia to help combat the disease. A second group of 700 engineering troops are headed there to build treatment units for the infected. About 200 troops are already there.

Describing the mission of the US troops in West Africa, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin Dempsey said:

“We’re establishing command and control nodes, logistics hubs, training for health care workers, and providing engineering support. The protection of our men and women is my priority as we seek to help those in Africa and work together to stem the tide of this crisis.”

Rear Admiral John Kirby also warned that 3,000 US troops might not be enough to fight Ebola. He said: “They’ll come in waves. It could go higher than 3,000 troops eventually.”

What do you think? Should the 101st Airborne Division and other US troops be used to combat Ebola? Or is their use foolish, and should the fight against Ebola be left in the hands of medical professionals?